Sections of B-17G’s from the 381st BG outward bound from their base Ridgewell, escorted by a lone P-51B Mustang.

Boeing B-17 Fortress Type: High-altitude strategic bomber.

History:

In May 1934 the US Army Air Corps issued a specification for a multi-engined anti-shipping bomber to defend the nation against enemy fleets. The answer was expected to be similar to the Martin B-10, but Boeing proposed four engines in order to carry the same bomb load faster and higher. It was a huge financial risk for the Seattle company but the resulting Model 299 was a giant among combat aircraft with four 750hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet engines, a crew of eight and stowage for eight 60 lb (272-kg) bombs internally.

The service-test batch of 13 Y1B-17 adopted the Wright Cyclone engine, later versions all being turbocharged for good high-altitude performance. The production B-17B introduced a new nose and bigger rudder and flaps, though the wing loading was conservative and an enduring characteristic of every Flying Fortress was sedate flying.

With the B-17C came a ventral bathtub, flush side guns, armour and self-sealing tanks. In return for combat data 20 were supplied to the RAF, which used them on a few high-altitude daylight raids with 90 Sqn of Bomber Command. It was found that the Norden sight tended to malfunction, the Browning guns to freeze at the high altitude and German fighters to attack from astern in a defensive blind spot.

While surviving Fortress I’s operated with Coastal and Middle East forces, the improved B-17D joined the US Army and bore the brunt of early fighting in the Pacific.

But extensive combat experience led to the redesigned B-17E, with powered dorsal, ventral (ball) and tail turrets, a huge fin for high-altitude bombing accuracy and much more armour and equipment. This went into mass production by Boeing, Lockheed-Vega and Douglas-Tulsa. It was the first weapon of the US 8th Bomber Command in England and on 17 August 1942 began three gruelling years of day strategic bombing in Europe.

Last-minute check before a mission by RAF Coastal Command Fortress IIA (B-17E). Some 200 served there from mid-1942.

Olive-drab B-17F’s in 1942. Later the 8th AAF Fortress were distinguished by unit insignia readable from a distance; and they were delivered unpainted, because the trail-streaming formations could be seen 100 miles away.

‘Stop’ waves a ground-crewman to the skipper of a red-tailed G-model on the green grass of a British base.

Bombing up a B-17G Flying Fortress of the 398rd BG of 8th USAAF.

A month earlier Churchill watched one of the new B-17C Fortress. But the US bomber will be for the RAF a disappointment.

B-17 Flying Fortresses in the large-scale attack around noon on the city center of Berlin. The smoke bombs have marked the objectives.

B-17 Fyling Fortress dropping bombs on a target in February 1945.

B-17G Fortress of 493rd BG drops it bombs in early 1945.

An overhead view of a 96th BG B-17G Fortress en route to its target.

Boeing B-17G Fortress of the 381st BG heading for their target.

B-17 dropping bombs.

An entire air armada of B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers, which were making emergency landings during the war in Switzerland. In total, there are 186 four-engined US bombers that are given free by Switzerland only after the surrender of Japan.

Pile of rubble at the bottom of a downed B-17 Fortress.

B-17 at a flight show in UK.

3d model of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress.

Soon the E gave way to the B-17F, of which 3,405 were built with many detail improvements, including a long Plexiglas nose, paddle-blade propellers and provision for underwing racks.

At the end of 1942 came the final bomber model, the B-17G, with chin turret and flush staggered waist guns. A total of 8,680 G models were made, Boeing’s Seattle plant alone turning out 16 a day and the total B-17 run amounted to 12,731.

A few B-17F’s were converted to XB-40s, carrying extra defensive guns to help protect the main Bomb Groups, while at least 25 were turned into BQ-7 Aphrodite radio-controlled missiles loaded with 12,000 lb of high explosive for use against U-boat shelters. Many F and G models were fitted with H2X radar with the scanner retracting into the nose or rear fuselage, while other versions included the F-9 reconnaissance, XC-108 executive transport, CB-17 utility transport, PB-1W radar early warning, PB-1G lifeboatcarrying air/sea rescue and OB-17 target drone.

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